Makerere to sack striking lecturers
Feb 12, 2008
MAKERERE University Council yesterday ordered the striking lecturers to resume teaching or resign. The council, the highest administrative organ of the university, held an emergency meeting yesterday to try and end the strike, which has entered its sixth day.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
and Francis Kagolo
MAKERERE University Council yesterday ordered the striking lecturers to resume teaching or resign. The 2,500 lecturers, through their umbrella group, the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), are protesting lack of teaching materials and mismanagement of the staff pension scheme.
A source said the council recommended that those who did not resume work by tomorrow would be sacked and their jobs advertised.
The council, the highest administrative organ of the university, held an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon to try and end the strike, which has entered its sixth day.
At the end of the meeting, Matthew Rukikaire, the council chairperson, issued the stern statement to all lecturers
“Council today (Tuesday) met and discussed the concern made by MUASA. The university council has decided that lecturers resume teaching immediately, in any case not later than Thursday 14,†the statement said.
Rukikaire’s statement asked the faculty deans and directors to submit reports on Thursday about the situation in their respective faculties “so as to take action.â€
But MUASA general secretary Kiggundu Musoke scoffed at the ultimatum, saying the university was trying to divert them from the fundamental issues they were raising.
“Everything we are doing is in the interest of Makerere University. We all want a better university and that is why we are demanding teaching materials and better working conditions,†he said.
He said MUASA would hold a general assembly today to decide whether to call off the strike.
The university on Monday said it had released sh200m for teaching materials but MUASA said the amount was not enough for the Chemistry department alone. Hundreds of idle students have threatened to demonstrate on Friday if the lecturers do not resume teaching.
The students’ guild academic affairs minister, Julius Kiddu, said they had asked chancellor Prof. Mondo Kagonyera to resolve the crisis immediately so that students can start classes.
The last strike by lecturers at Makerere was over pay at the end of 2006, leading to the closure of the university for over two months.
and Francis Kagolo
MAKERERE University Council yesterday ordered the striking lecturers to resume teaching or resign. The 2,500 lecturers, through their umbrella group, the Makerere University Academic Staff Association (MUASA), are protesting lack of teaching materials and mismanagement of the staff pension scheme.
A source said the council recommended that those who did not resume work by tomorrow would be sacked and their jobs advertised.
The council, the highest administrative organ of the university, held an emergency meeting yesterday afternoon to try and end the strike, which has entered its sixth day.
At the end of the meeting, Matthew Rukikaire, the council chairperson, issued the stern statement to all lecturers
“Council today (Tuesday) met and discussed the concern made by MUASA. The university council has decided that lecturers resume teaching immediately, in any case not later than Thursday 14,†the statement said.
Rukikaire’s statement asked the faculty deans and directors to submit reports on Thursday about the situation in their respective faculties “so as to take action.â€
But MUASA general secretary Kiggundu Musoke scoffed at the ultimatum, saying the university was trying to divert them from the fundamental issues they were raising.
“Everything we are doing is in the interest of Makerere University. We all want a better university and that is why we are demanding teaching materials and better working conditions,†he said.
He said MUASA would hold a general assembly today to decide whether to call off the strike.
The university on Monday said it had released sh200m for teaching materials but MUASA said the amount was not enough for the Chemistry department alone. Hundreds of idle students have threatened to demonstrate on Friday if the lecturers do not resume teaching.
The students’ guild academic affairs minister, Julius Kiddu, said they had asked chancellor Prof. Mondo Kagonyera to resolve the crisis immediately so that students can start classes.
The last strike by lecturers at Makerere was over pay at the end of 2006, leading to the closure of the university for over two months.